Eutrochium plant named ‘FLOREUPRE1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Eutrochium  plant named ‘FLOREUPRE1’, characterized by its medium red-purple colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-upright growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Eutrochium purpureum(syn. Eupatorium purpureum).

Variety denomination: ‘FLOREUPRE1’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofEutrochium plant botanically known as Eutrochium purpureum andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘FLOREUPRE1’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program inQuedlinburg, Germany during August 2011. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Eutrochium cultivars having a compactgrowth habit.

The new Eutrochium cultivar is the result of open-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Eutrochiumpurpureum breeding selection coded 4846-1, not patented, characterizedby its medium cream-rose colored ray florets, dark green-coloredfoliage, and vigorous, upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent ofthe new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered andselected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the abovestated open-pollination during September 2012 in a controlledenvironment in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings sinceSeptember 2012 in Quedlinburg, Germany and West Chicago, Ill. hasdemonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all ofthe characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retainedthrough successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘FLOREUPRE1’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Eutrochium plant:

-   -   1. Medium red-purple colored inflorescences;    -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;    -   3. Low growth vigor; and    -   4. Compact-upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in having a different ray floret color, lower growth vigor,and a more compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Eutrochium cultivars, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Little Joe’, U.S. PlantPat. No. 16,122. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the newcultivar differ from plants of ‘Little Joe’ in at least the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are shorter than plants of ‘Little        Joe’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a darker purple-colored        flowers than plants of ‘Little Joe’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have larger leaves than plants of        ‘Little Joe’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalinflorescence and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors inthe photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘FLOREUPRE1’. The plants were approximately 18-months old and grown inElburn, Ill. in one-gallon containers for approximately 5 weeks in agreenhouse and 16 months in an outdoor nursery bed in West Chicago, Ill.Plants were pinched once after transplant into the one-gallon container.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘FLOREUPRE1’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘FLOREUPRE1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The color values were determined in July 2019 under naturallight conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately18-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants. The plantswere grown in Elburn, Ill. in a glass-covered greenhouse andtransplanted into one-gallon containers for approximately 5 weeks.Plants were pinched once after transplant into the one-gallon container.No supplemental lighting was provided. Plants were then transplanted toan outdoor nursery bed in West Chicago, Ill. for approximately 16months, which included one over-wintering period. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Eutrochium purpureum ‘FLOREUPRE1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Eutrochium purpureum breeding            selection coded 4846-1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Unknown.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.        -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 10 days at 70° F.            (21° C.).        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 to 49            days at 70° F. (21° C.).        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 10 to 12 weeks from a            rooted cutting to finish in a 15 cm container.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,            low growth vigor, and compact-upright.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F./−28.9° C. to            −26° C.).        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 75.0 cm. Width: Approximately 70.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching improves lateral            branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:            Approximately 9.        -   Stems.—Strength: Very strong. Aspect: Nearly erect. Shape:            Rounded. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            52.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 cm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 6.0 cm. Texture: Sparsely            pubescent. Lenticels: Approximately 100 per node, with a            length of approximately 1.0 to 2.0 mm and a width of less            than 1.0 mm. Color of young and mature stems: 146B with a            heavy overlay of 187A and lenticels of N187A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Form: Simple. Arrangement: Two to three            per node in a single whorl.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Acute to perpendicular to stem. Shape:            Elliptic. Margin: Crenate. Apex: Acute to narrowly            acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Length of mature leaf: Approximately 16.5 cm. Width of            mature leaf: Approximately 7.2 cm. Texture of upper surface:            Sparsely pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely            pubescent. Color of upper surface of young and mature            foliage: Closest to 137A with 146A and venation of 146B with            midvein having an overlay of 187A. Color of lower surface of            young and mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of            146D.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.3 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 146D            with an overlay of 187A on upper surface.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—‘FLOREUPRE1’ is freely flowering under            outdoor growing conditions blooming from early summer            through autumn.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 3 weeks.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Discoid, arranged in compound            corymbs, persistent. Aspect: Primarily facing upward.            Arrangement: Terminal, held upright on strong peduncles.            Fragrance: None detected. Quantity per plant:            Approximately 8. Height of corymb (including peduncle):            Approximately 22.0 cm. Diameter of corymb: Approximately            26.0 cm. Height of individual head: Approximately 1.4 cm.            Diameter of individual head: Approximately 1.2 cm.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 9.0 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short            appressed hairs. Color: 187A with lenticels of N187A.        -   Bud.—Shape: Ellipisoid. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: NN155D with an            overlay of 70A to 70B.        -   Ray florets.—Not observed.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity per head: Approximately 10. Shape:            Tubular, pappus of capillary bristles, approximately 5.0 mm            in length, at base of tube portion. Margin of free portion:            Entire. Apex: Five acute tips. Base: Fused. Length:            Approximately 1.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.            Texture: Glabrous. Color of upper or inner surface when            first and fully open: NN155D with an overlay of N75B. Color            of lower or outer surface when first and fully open: NN155D            with an overlay of N75A, base of 145C.        -   Receptacle.—Shape: Dome. Height: Approximately 0.5 mm.            Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Color: 146C.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence Approximately 17.            Arrangement: In multiple whorls. Shape: Narrowly elliptic to            narrowly ovate. Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Length of innermost: Approximately 7.0 mm. Length            of outermost: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width of all:            Approximately 1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower            surfaces: Glabrous. Color of inner surface: NN155D with 145D            at base. Color of outer surface: NN155D with an overlay of            70A to 70B and 145D at base.        -   Pedicle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect to approximately            45° from vertical. Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Densely pubescent with short            appressed hairs. Color: 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium quantity: 5 per floret.            Stamen length; Approximately 5.0 mm, lower 1.0 mm adnate to            tube. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length: Approximately            2.0 mm. Anther color: 70A, transitions to 200B after            dehiscence. Filament length of free portion: Approximately            2.0 mm. Filament color: NN155D tinted with N75A. Pollen            amount: Moderate. Pollen color: 155D. Gynoecium quantity: 1            per floret. Pistil length: Approximately 1.3 cm. Stigma            shape: Bifurcate. Stigma length: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Stigma color: N75A. Style length: Approximately 6.0 mm.            Style color: NN155D tinted with N75A. Ovary length:            Approximately 4.0 mm. Ovary color: 145C.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Eutrochium plantnamed ‘FLOREUPRE1’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.